June 3 - Mormon Trail

 Mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-80s. However, it's 8:30 and it's still cloudy. But I'm trusting the weather and heading up to hike the Mormon trail (hopefully, it'll be sunny by the time I'm heading back from the 2 mile marker.)

It's 55 degrees and cloudy when I set up after 9am. But there's blue sky to the west so at some point, there'll be sun (I hope).

Lots of birds singing the morning. Guess they'll loved the 3 days of rain/snow.

As I start up the hill, I find an Evening Primrose.


At the top of the hill, I find my 1st butterfly (Blue) frozen and hoping for sun.

I reach the main trail and start - not expecting any butterflies because of the clouds but still looking.

Along the way, I do find birds - Gold Finches, 

Spotted Towhees, Robins, Hairy Woodpecker, and many others. Including the hummingbird who hovered right in front of my face!!!

I also find some Dragonflies

moose tracks and a deer rib cage.

I think I go about 1/2 when the sun starts to come out but the bflys are still scarce. 

At the meadow, I'm finding Blues and Large Marbles.

I reach the 2 mile marker; hoping the bugs are better on the return.

I definitely see more species on the return but the numbers are no where near last Friday.

Still I see: 

2-tailed Swallowtail

Western Swallowtail

Orangetips

Mustard White

Large Marbles

Field Crescent

Northern Crescent (1st of the year)

Reflict Frits (5)

Mourning Cloak

Ringlet (numbers are increasing)

Juba Skipper

Northern Cloudywing

WTB

Boisduval's Blue

Spring Azure

Dreamy Duskywing

Rocky Mountain Duskywing

Common Checkered Skipper




Good day!

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